Wielding their hard hats, the GN-Bruins retained their Fall B title with a hard-earned 5-2 win over a pesky Whalers crew. Win the victory, the Bruins threepeated both in consecutive HLI Cups and Fall championships.

This championship match was decided in a critical eight minute stretch in the middle of the game. The Whalers started conservatively intending to defuse the hi-powered Bruins offense. They clogged the neutral zone and packed the slot. Throw in some stalwart work from Whalers goalie Dan Scorzelli and the game played scoreless through the first half. Alas, the Bruins, while gifted offensively, are underestimated in a grind 'em, lunch pail affair. Their resolve to get "gritty" ultimately decided the game. In the middle of second B League MVP Casey Tremblay foiled a breakout along the wall, dug out the biscuit, and unleased a blueline howitzer that ignited the Bruins. Several minutes later, another failed Whalers clear resulted in a red light, and when Tremblay promptly picked top corner, again off an earned turnover, the inevitable started to descend. The Bruins quickly stretched the lead to 4-0 early in the third, before the resilient Whalers scrapped their way to shouting distance.

Keeping a determined Maple Leafs team at bay, Tremblays Pub capped off a sterling regular season with the C League playoff crown. With their 6-3 win, Tremblays captured their first Long Island Cup championship.

The key moment in this title match came late in the first. The Maple Leafs had just tied the game despite Tremblays carrying much of the action. Evident early was the stout netminding of the Leaf's Brian Ross. Ross, who would ultimately turn away 43 shots, made several pointblank denials that foretold that goals would be hard to come by. But, to beat Tremblays, a team must focus teamwide for the full forty-five. Exhale, and you're in their rear view. Only 35 seconds after the Leafs' tying score, C League MVP Kevin Faraci seized upon a faulty zone clear to find Casey Tremblay crossice. Three minutes later, another defensive zone lapse led to a gutblow goal with just 25 seconds remaining in the period. For the remainder of the game, Tremblays used constant pressure to parry any Leafs offensive foray and never allowed the game Leafs to get any closer than two. Faraci, who had two previous playoff hat tricks, tallied two helpers in the decisive first period.

Winner's Bracket

C4 - Not Tonight - Tremblays Pub stem Scorpions 5-2

C2 - First Strike - Scorpions edge Woodstock 4-3

C1 - "T" Party - Tremblays Pub pulls away from Maple Leafs 9-3

Loser's Bracket

C5 - Cinderella! - Maple Leafs refuse to lose, stun Scorpions 5-2

C3 - We Think We Can - Maple Leafs surprise Woodstock 3-2 in OT

Wildcard

C0 - The Little Team that Could - Maple Leafs continue late surge, rake Phantoms 8-3

Shaking off the playoff jitters that impacted their previous game, the Euro Stars played with a composure of a ready team and won the D2 championship going away 7-3. The D2 title is the Euro Stars' first LI Cup championship in the organization's history.

The teams traded goals in a nervous first half in which both teams alternatively played sloppy and on their heels. Neither team could settle into a flow as they traded mishaps resulting in goals. But, as often happpens in these big games, the switch comes unexpectedly. Late in the second, a harmless Kevin Azevedo goal line throw at the net inadvertantly deflected off a Sharks defenseman to give the Stars a 4-3 lead. Remarkably, this goal seemed to rattle the Sharks and sapped the needed vim to battle back. The Stars scored again just three minutes later and suddenly the Stars had the separation they would not relinquish.

In the third, the Euro Stars played lockdown defense, which was led by an unlikely source. D2 MVP David Jose, who normally centers the Stars top scoring line, dropped to the backline for this winner-take-all. With his ability to control and move the puck, Jose enabled the Stars defense to defuse any sustained Sharks pressure towards the net. He and his defensive mates repeatedly broke up rushes, deflected passes, and blocked numerous shots. Jose also chipped in on the offensive end with a goal and a helper.

Sweating out the tense final ticks, the Swordfish had just enough to put away PLT 3-1 and raise the E1 League flag. With the win, the Swordfish celebrated their first LI Cup in the organization's inaugural campaign.

Through the first forty, the Swordfish executed near flawlessly. They defensively defused PLT's attack and smartly capitalized on scoring opportunities to build a 3-0 lead. Heading the offensive efforts was E1 League MVP Joe Rizzo. Rizzo, who accounted for half of the Swordfish' playoff tallies, scored both the gamewinner and insurance goals. Both goals stemmed from his knack of finding the seams to either isolate himself or the goalie.

As often is the case, championships, especially the first one, do not come without some palm wringing. PLT narrowed the lead to 3-1 with five to go and two minutes later, they went on a powerplay. PLT, whose playoff history drips with improbable late comebacks, seemed poised to write another heroic chapter. But, to their chagrin, 'Fish netminder Mike Giacomino proved impenetrable. During the hectic penalty kill, the 'Fish took another penalty, but Giacomino held firm to set off the Swordfish championship hoopla.

With the Coliseum ice under skate, East Coast came from behind to grab the E2 title 3-2 over the Rage. The championship is the organization's first LI Cup after five fruitless years.

In a crisp well-played title tilt, the Rage took advantage of a tentative East Coast squad and controlled much of the early play. Moving crisply on top the hallowed sheet, they generated the better early scoring chances and ultimately staked a 1-0 lead midway through. With momentum building with each shift, the Rage seemed poised to spoil a title bash. But, as often is the harbinger, a defensive zone turnover with less than a minute in a period proved costly and terminal. East Coast seized upon a sloppy Rage pass and bing-bang-boom E2 MVP Joe Norris changed the game. Two minutes later, Norris goes end-to-end, while shorthanded, and it's East Coast 2-1. The reeling Rage rebounded shortly thereafter to tie, but their elation proved brief. Just 29 seconds later, Patrick O'Brien threaded a precise pass, from behind-the-net, to the "Hat" brandishing Norris, who wasted no time sniping the game and championship winner.

In a finale befitting the two divisional heavyweights, the Pioneers emerged from the loser's bracket to wrest the 3C title from their archrival 3-2. With this championship win, the Pioneers avenged the Spring 2006 championship loss in which a second seeded Primetime came out of the loser's bracket to win the final two.
Louis-Schmeling. Ali-Frazier. Balboa-Creed. All landmark match-ups that kindled the palpable anticipation of a physical, knock down, drag 'em out happening. For the first two periods, these two titans predictably played all square. Each alternately controlled play as both defensive units battled mightly under fierce pressure. The match, the season, the championship simply distilled to who could win one period.

Despite recently adding offensive sizzle, the Pioneers remained very much a lunch-pail crew. Helmut strapped tight, nose down, get to it. No more emblematic of this stark approach was the line of Stan Cotek, Warren Sackman, and 3C MVP Brad Miller . Tenacious, edgy, and near immovable in the fateful third period, the "Big Uglies" dominated swaths of shift time that unexpectedly wore down their formidable foe. Relentess in the effort, Miller finally solved the equally stout Primetime netminder Ruben Santana at 7:12 in typical rawhide fashion. Miller, while wearing a defenseman, doggedly plugged away in the low slot until he somehow worked the precious biscuit past Santana. Santana made several spectacular saves later in the third to keep his squad hopeful, but their final, desperate charge proved futile and the Pioneers deservedly stood alone atop the 3C mountain.

3E7 - Year of the Rat! - Rats slay their playoff demons, edge Wolverines 4-2 for first LI Cup in 11 years

Enduring a frenetic final two minutes, the Rats staved off a wishful Wolverines squad 4-2 to wear the 3E crown. With this championship run, the Rats raised the LI Cup for the first time in 11 years, and buried the lingering playoff demons that have haunted the organization.

Emerging from the loser's bracket, the Rats earned this championship. After spotting the Wolverines an early goal, they controlled much of the match through the second period. Keying their dominant play was suffocating defense. The two previous playoff meetings between the two rivals saw the Wolverines capitalize on numerous Rats breakdowns to enter the third ahead. This game, however, the Rats were essentially an umbrella around their net, blocking and deflecting numerous shots. Offensively through two, they outshot the Wolverines 20-7 and netted three goals. The pivotal goal came from the dependable blade of 3E League MVP Rob Bentrewicz. Bentrewicz, who scored in every playoff game, sniped the game winning tally with only 15 ticks left in the second on an against-the-grain wrister to the far side.

The Wolverines, however, did not go quietly. They sparked in the third, and while still down two, heavily pressured the Rats in the final couple of minutes. They sent shivers with a mad scramble putback at 58 seconds, but could not muster the elusive tying goal before an emptynetter set off the long awaited Rat "New Year" jubilation.